TEXTUAL AIDS refer to non-textual elements that help readers understand the content of the text. They also refer to elements that stand-out from the main text such as titles and subtitles, bold , italicized and underlined texts. Non-textual elements include illustrations, maps, tables, graphs and charts.
Imagine you're trying to build a tower with blocks, but you don't have any instructions! It might be hard to know where to put each block, right? Textual aids are like instructions for reading! They help us understand the story better, just like instructions help us build a tower. Let's say we're reading a story about a little girl who goes to the park. If there's a picture of the park, it helps us imagine what it looks like. If the word "swing" is in bold, we know it's important and we should pay attention to it. So, by looking at pictures, bold words, and other textual aids, we can understand the story better and have more fun reading it! It's like having a helper to make reading easier and more exciting!
These aids have two main functions, namely: first, to direct the readers’ attention to important ideas in the text and second, to provide more information as a supplement to what is already written.
TITLES AND SUBTITLES Provide initial idea on what the text is all about Activate prior knowledge on the topic "Represent the key concepts (title) and supporting ideas (subtitles) in the paper" Elite Editing, 2015) or Layering positioning of these aids convey the ideas' level of Importance
TITLES AND SUBTITLES The title is the main signpost. It's the big, bold headline that tells you the overall theme or topic of the text. It's like the title of a movie, giving you a general idea of what to expect. Subtitles are smaller signposts. They act as mini-titles, breaking down the text into smaller, more manageable sections. Each subtitle introduces a specific topic or idea within the larger theme.
A News Article Title: "Climate Change: The Urgent Need for Action" This title grabs your attention and tells you the main topic: the urgency of addressing climate change. Subtitles: "The Science Behind Climate Change" "The Impacts of Climate Change" "Solutions to Mitigate Climate Change" These subtitles break down the article into sections that explore the science, impacts, and potential solutions related to climate change.
By using titles and subtitles, authors help you understand the structure of the text, preview the content, and find specific information quickly. They are like signposts guiding you through a complex journey of information!
ILLUSTRATIONS Visual representation of the text Facilitates better retention of the information presented
ILLUSTRATIONS They help you visualize what the author is describing, making the information more concrete and relatable.
Example: A Biology Textbook Imagine you're reading about the human circulatory system in a biology textbook. The text might describe the heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries in detail. But, a diagram of the circulatory system would make it much easier to understand how blood flows throughout the body. The diagram would show: The heart as a central pump Arteries carrying oxygenated blood away from the heart Veins carrying deoxygenated blood back to the heart Capillaries connecting arteries and veins for exchange of nutrients and waste
Tables Information (facts and figures) that are organized and arranged in columns and rows Used to show patterns and relationships that still appeals to the readers' verbal system, meaning tables are supposed to be read like a text.
Tables Column headings - found on top of the columns; used to identify the contents of a specific column > Row headings – used to define or identify the contents of a specific row.
Graphs used when a simple table cannot adequately demonstrate important relationship of and within data.
Graphs Graphs are like visual storytellers that help us understand data in a fun and engaging way. They take numbers and turn them into pictures, making it easier to see patterns, trends, and relationships that might be hidden in a table of numbers.
Bar Graph Uses either vertical or horizontal bars to show the data it represents.
Line Graph
Pie Graph
Pictograph
MAPS Visual representations of selected characteristics of a place, usually drawn on a flat surface
2 Types of Maps 1. Physical Map- includes labels for features such as mountain ranges and bodies of water
2 Types of Maps 1. Political Map- usually includes labels for features such as cities and major towns, units such as states or provinces, and bodies of water